COC sponsors Evening with Representatives
     ALPINE — Spend the evening enjoying catered food and questioning elected representatives starting at 6 p.m., Friday, July 8 at the Alpine Community Center. $55 per person includes dinner.
     Payment is to be made at the time of the reservation. Sponsorship tables are available. For further information and to make reservations, one may call Kelly or Helen at 445-2722.

UC director to guide wildfire field trip
     CUYAMACA — The Anza-Borrego Institute will host a wildlife and wildfire field trip on Sunday, July 17 at Cuyamaca Rancho State Park.
     Guided by instructor Dr. Walter Boyce, director of the UC Davis Wildlife Health Center, the field trip will visit two sites that were impacted by the Cedar Fire. Participants will look at differences among the sites and talk about what happened to the wild animals, especially the large mammals.
     Cost for members is $20, for non-members it is $24. For more information, call Deborah Knapp, ABI Education Coordinator, at (760) 767-4063 or register online at theabf.org.

Host families sought for Japanese visit program
     ALPINE — A great way to expand your understanding of people, especially those from other countries, is to open your home and actually enjoy their company for a few weeks. Here is an opportunity to do that. Sixteen young Japanese girls from 14 to 17 years old, will be coming to Alpine on July 23 as exchange students. They will stay with local families for two weeks, attend classes to improve their English, go sightseeing including Disneyland and a Padre game, have fun and make a lot of new friends,
Krista Sopfe, the Alpine coordinator of the program, reports that she needs seven more host families. “Most of the girls are 17,” she says. “They speak some English and are very easy to have as part of your family. Hosts are responsible for local transportation but that can be shared in car pooling.” She added that the hosts are welcome join in the visits to various attractions at the same discounted rates that are offered to the visitors, 
     To volunteer or to learn more about the program, call Sopfe at 445-9314.

Grammy winner performs at Viejas
     ALPINE — Country artist LeAnn Rimes will perform at Viejas Concerts in the Park Wednesday, July 27. Tickets are $70 per person.
     Viejas Concerts in the Park has reserved seating and general admission lawn seating, with wheelchair accessible tickets available upon request. All guests must have a ticket to enter. 
     All shows occur rain or shine. Free parking and paid valet service is available.
     For updated information on upcoming performers throughout the season or to purchase tickets online, visit www.viejas.com. Tickets are also available at the Viejas Gift Shop or one may call 220-TIXS.

CCT performs classics
     LA MESA – The Christian Community Theater of El Cajon announces its performance schedule for its twenty-fifth summer season.
     This year’s shows include Grease, to show from June 30 through July 23, and Beauty and the Beast, to show from Aug. 4 through 27.
     The CCT box office is located at 1545 Pioneer Way in El Cajon and is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. All performances take place at the Mt. Helix Amphitheater in La Mesa. Savings of up to 25 percent are available with the purchase of a season ticket.
     For more information one may call 588-0206 or 800-696-1929.

Parade of Ponds to tour 80 local gardens
     San Diego County will present the Parade of Ponds on Saturday, July 9 and Sunday, July 10.
     The parade will tour over 80 locations through the county, many of them in East County. Visitors will tour a pondless waterfall in Lakeside, a pond in Alpine and a waterfall in Ramona.
     The gardens will be open from 9 a.m. until 9 p.m. on July 9, and from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. on July 10. All monies raised from tickets sales benefit Lakeside's River Park Conservancy, a local non-profit environmental and community organization dedicated to acquiring and restoring critical riparian habitat, while creating an urban park with recreation opportunities and open space for youths, families and seniors.
     The two-day event is the largest of its kind in the world. The tour is self-guided, and the price of admission includes a guidebook with a map and directions to every water garden on the tour. Tickets are $20, and children ages 12 and under are admitted free. To purchase tickets, call Lakeside’s River Park Conservancy at 443-4770 or Aqua Designs at (858)-577-0018.

Author to sign books at Montana Cafe
     ALPINE — Alpine author Carlette Anderson will sign books at Janet’s Montana Cafe at 1 p.m., Friday, July 22, 2506 Alpine Blvd. The event is also a celebration of the book’s publication and will be followed by lunch.
     In her newly published book, Dysfunctional is Normal, Anderson draws on her own life experiences and observations on how some form of dysfunctional behavior is a normal part of most people's lives.
For further information, one may call Linda Richards at 445-2120 or Carlette Anderson at 445-5716. 
     Dysfunctional is Normal may be purchased through www.amazon.com and or at Carlette's website, www.gotbooks.us. A percentage of each purchase goes to charities chosen by shoppers.

Descanso library continues summer reading program
     DESCANSO – The Descanso branch of the San Diego County Library, 9545 River Dr., continues its youth summer reading program this summer, offering reading events for teens and younger children.
     Reading events include a story time ever Tuesday at 1:30 p.m. and a story and related craft every Friday at 1 p.m. The program will conclude with an end of summer reading party on Friday, Aug. 5 at 1 p.m.
     For more information, call the library at 445-5279.

Cross-cultural foundation to host San Diego-Tijuana youth camp
     TIJUANA — The Americas Foundation and Young Audiences of San Diego are sponsoring a weeklong International Friendship Camp this summer at Colegio La Esperanza in Tijuana from July 24 through 30. The camp will help foster greater cross-border understanding among children by pairing young San Diego campers, ages 6-12, with Tijuana youngsters of the same age. 
     The overnight camp will focus on the arts and feature multi-lingual classes and workshops and evening campfires.
     Parents will register and participate alongside their children for the week of the camp. Cost per participant for the 7-day camp is $245. The fee includes meals and field trips. 
     To learn more or to register, visit christine.americasfoundation.net/camp or contact Stephanie Jennings at 237-8870. E-mail sjagitator@ucsd.edu or Merrill DeGraff at lamariposa5@juno.com or Christine Brady at 585-9009.

Developers host project workshop
     CAMPO — Star Ranch project proponents will host a workshop from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday, July 16, to which the public is invited. 
     After the two-hour workshop ends at 1 p.m., a barbecue lunch will be served. Star Ranch owner Barry DeVorzon will host the event in the barn on Star Ranch, 31310 Hwy 94. RSVPs are requested for the lunch and may be sent to RSVP@starranchco.com. (That e-mail will be set up by Monday).
     For further information, one may call Leslie Wade at 702-4848.

Alpine Country Quilt Guild holds 2005 Quilt Show
     ALPINE — The Alpine Country Quilt Guild will hold its 2005 Quilt Show on Saturday, July 16 at the Alpine Community Center.
     The event runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. with many activities for participants. One featured attendee will be teacher, author and artist Sharyn Craig. There will be quilt appraisals by Julie Zgliniec a merchant mall, quilt drawings and door prizes.
     The cost for admission is $5. For more information one may call 445-5930.

Queen of Angels to hold golf tourney
     ALPINE — The Queen of Angels Catholic Church invites the public to compete in its 2005 Golf Classic tournament, to be held next Friday, July 8, at the Cottonwood Golf Course in Rancho San Diego.
Check-in starts at 11 a.m. and the tourney begins at 1 p.m.
     The entry fee is $125 and dinner afterward for guests is $25.
     For further information, and to register, one may call Guy Miller at 445-8428, Jim Mulvaney at 445-4727, or Marilyn Schneider at 445-1186.

Kiwanis Club to host chili cook-off
     ALPINE — The Alpine Kiwanis Club will host its Fourth Annual Chili Cook-off at 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Sunday, Aug. 7, at the Alpine Community Center Park.
     The event will include live music by Hillbilly Noise, entertainment for children, a beer and wine garden, and food sales.
     Proceeds will go to benefit the community center and pre-registration is required.
     For further information and to register to compete, one may call Jim at 890-2283.

Local farmers, artisans sought for Alpine Farmer’s Market
     ALPINE — The Alpine Farmer’s Market is looking for local residents who grow their own crops or livestock and have a little surplus to sell at the Farmer’s Market Cooperative in Alpine.
     The market is also looking for local artists and musicians.
     For more information, one may contact 445-5249.

Homemakers offer best deals in town
     CAMPO — The new Mountain Empire Homemakers thrift store, located at 987 Sheridan Rd. across from the Campo Senior Center, is regularly open Thursdays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The Homemakers use thrift shop proceeds to fund scholarships for local students and donate to other community programs.
     For further information, one may call Sue Fallgren at 478-2149.

Project C.A.R.E. helps those who live alone
     Project C.A.R.E. may be able to help those who live alone or those concerned about a senior who lives alone.
     This is a community program that involves community service agencies and local businesses in providing services to any senior or disabled person. Programs include RUOK, Postal Alert, Gatekeeper, Vial of Life, YANA (You Are Not Alone), Safe Return and more. These free programs help maintain people in their homes. 
     For more information, call 740-4214.

Spirit choir accepting new members
     ALPINE — Alpine children between the ages of six and 13 are invited to join the Spirit Choir. 
     Directed by Joanne Ginkel, with husband Ludwig Ginkel as production manager, the youngsters meet every Friday afternoon at 4 p.m. at the Alpine Community Church. There they learn lively new fun songs and rehearse older ones. 
     The choir sings about once a month and on special holiday occasions during the church’s worship service. Contact Ginkel at 445-8480 for more information.

Youth sports foundation to host exchange
     The Sports for Youth Foundation will host two international basketball exchange sports events this summer.
     The foundation is accepting applications from Canadian and American boys aged 15-20 who are accomplished high school of club basketball players and good citizens in their school and community to participate in a junior basketball exchange in Brazil. The tour will travel to Rio de Janeiro and other selected Brazilian cities. The registration deadline is July 30.
     For more information or a tour brochure, one may contact the Sports for Youth office at (425)-255-4645 or online.

Students needed for free computer class
     ALPINE — Alpine Elementary School and Grossmont Adult School will sponsor a free computer class at the end of summer.
     The class will be held every Wednesday evening beginning Sep. 1 and will run through Dec. 15.
     Students will be required to furnish two 3.5 floppy diskettes (PC format) by the second week. A $3 fee will be charged for a class booklet.
     For more information or to enroll, contact Linda Snider, class teacher at 644-7000 ext. 3481.

Campo VFW gearing up for annual swap meet
     CAMPO — Campo VFW Post 2080 will hold a Swap Meet, Saturday, Aug. 13, and tables are for rent at $5 for vendors. Hot dogs, drinks and a bake sale will be available from 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. 
     For more information, contact Jane at 478-5916 or Gloria at 478-2853

Directors to be elected to chamber of commerce
     ALPINE — The following active members of the Alpine Chamber of Commerce have been placed in nomination for the open positions on the board of directors for the 2005-2007 term. Teresa Johnson, Bread Basket Restaurant, Becky Kirkwood, Exit Realty, Julie Ramirez, Alpine Country Day Schools, Jim Whitener, Edward Jones Investments.
     Additional nominations may be made by written petition to the Director of Proceedings, P.O. Box 69, Alpine, Calif. 91903, to be received on or before July 29, signed by at least five active members for each additional nominee who has signed his or her willingness to serve if elected.
     If no petition is filed within the designated period, the nominations shall be closed and the new member will be elected by the Board of Directors at its regular meeting in September.